Grizzlies Preview: April 3, 2021 Utah at Allen

Utah Grizzlies (18-14-4-6, .548 Win %) at Allen Americans (24-13-2 .641 Win%)April 3, 2021 | 6:05 PM | Game #43 | Allen Event CenterReferee: Andrew BruggemanLinesmen: Aaron Schacht, Michael Miggans. 

Where to See and Hear the Game  

You can catch every game on Flohockey.TV, the new home for ECHL.TV. The games can also be heard on Mixlr, the new broadcast home for Grizzlies hockey.Watch Live:  https://www.flohockey.tv/Listen Live: https://mixlr.com/utah-grizzlies

The Match-up

It’s the last game of the 3 game series in the Lonestar state. It’s the 11th season meeting between the clubs, with Utah getting standings points in 6 of the 10.

Matthew Boucher Named League Rookie of the Month

The 23 year-old Boucher was named the league’s Rookie of the Month for March 2021. In 12 games in the month, Boucher had 15 points (7g, 8a). Boucher had a point in 9 of the 12 games in the month. He’s the first Grizzlies player to receive the monthly rookie award since JT Henke won for December 2019. Boucher leads all Grizzlies skaters in goals (16), assists (20), points (36), shots on goal (128) and multiple point games (8).

Boucher Named League Player of the Week

Boucher was named the league player of the week from March 22-28. It’s the 2nd time this season the first year pro has won the award. He previously won from January 18th-24th. Boucher has been named the game’s number 1 star in 2 of his last 4 games. He leads the team with 8 multiple point games. He also leads the team and all league rookies in goals (15), assists (20), points (35) and shots on goal (125).

Recent Transactions

Travis Barron and Ty Lewis were each reassigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. Barron has 3 assists in 9 games, while Lewis has 2 goals and 8 assists in 14 games. Hayden Hodgson was acquired on March 27th from Wheeling for future considerations. He made his team debut last night, wearing number 39. Defenseman Hunter Skinner was loaned to the Hartford Wolf Pack on March 25th. Skinner, 19, has 7 goals and 10 assists in 25 games for Utah. Goaltender Brad Barone was traded to the Rapid City Rush on March 24th. Barone in 2 seasons with Utah had a record of 9-5-2-2 with a .903 save percentage and a 2.74 goals against average.

Hunter Skinner Signs NHL Entry-Level Deal with Rangers

Defenseman Hunter Skinner, now with the Hartford Wolf Pack, signed an NHL Entry-level contract with the New York Rangers on March 29th. Skinner played in 26 games with the Grizzlies and had 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists). Skinner was drafted in the fourth round, 112th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Rangers.

Utah Series vs Allen

It’s the 11th season meeting between the clubs. Utah is 2-4-1-3 vs Allen this season. Matthew Boucher leads Utah with 10 points (6g, 4a). Hunter Skinner, now with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, had 7 points (3g, 4a) in 8 games. Cedric Pare has 5 goals vs Allen. Trey Bradley and Ryan Lowney each have 2 goals vs the Americans.

Utah 0 @ Allen 3 (Apr 2 2021)

Utah 2 @ Allen 3 (Apr 1 2021)

Allen 1 @ Utah 5 (Mar 14 2021)

Allen 5 @ Utah 4 (Mar 13 2021) OT

Allen 6 @ Utah 2 (Mar 12 2021)

Utah 3 @ Allen 5 (Mar 3 2021)

Utah 1 @ Allen 2 (Feb 9 2021) SO

Allen 3 @ Utah 4 (Jan 31 2021)

Allen 3 @ Utah 2 (Jan 30 2021) SO

Allen 5 @ Utah 2 (Jan 29 2021)

2020-21 Number of Times Grizzlies Face Different Opponents

Allen – 18 games.

Rapid City – 16 games.

Tulsa – 12 games.

Kansas City – 11 games.

Wichita – 9 games.

Fort Wayne – 3 games at Maverik Center from June 3-5.

Wheeling – 3 games. Only 3 games vs an Eastern Conference opponent.

2020-2021 Regular Season Totals (league rankings)

Overall record: 18-14-4-6

Home record: 12-5-2-3

Road record: 6-9-2-3

Win percentage: .548 (4th in Western Conference).

Streak: Lost 2.

Standings Points: 46

Last 10: 5-3-1-1

Goals per game: 2.90 (Tied 8th). Goals for: 122

Goals against per game: 3.31 (13th). Goals against: 139

Shots per game: 32.57 (4th).

Shots against per game: 29.79 (6th).

Power Play: 18.8 % - 32 for 170 (3rd).

Penalty Kill: 80.7 % - 119 for 148 (12th).

Penalty Minutes: 525 (12.50 per game).

Shorthanded Goals: 5 (3rd) Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 6 (Tied for 8th)

Players Used: 46.

Attendance: 36,828 (1,674 per game).

Record When Scoring First: 11-5-1-1

Team Leaders (2020-21 season)

Goals: Matthew Boucher (16)

Assists: Boucher (20)

Points: Boucher (36)

Plus/Minus: Jack Jenkins (+8)

PIM: Teigan Zahn (58)

Power Play Points: Pat Cannone/Ryan Lowney (11)

Shots on Goal: Matthew Boucher (128) 

Shooting Percentage: Nick Henry (20.0%) – Minimum 15 shots.

Game Winning Goals: Pat Cannone/Nick Henry/Matthew Boucher/Cedric Pare (2)

Wins: Brad Barone (5)

Save %: Parker Gahagen (.930) – Minimum 3 games

Goals Against Average: Gahagen (2.12). – Minimum 3 games

Current Roster

Forwards: Matthew Boucher, Trey Bradley, Pat Cannone, Charlie Gerard, Hayden Hodgson, Matt Hoover, Christian Horn, Jack Jenkins, Mitch Maxwell, Cedric Pare, Jared Pike, Joe Wegwerth. AJ White.

Defenseman: Brandon Fehd, Miles Gendron, Garrett Johnston, Alex Lepkowski, Ryan Lowney, Michael Prapavessis, Teigan Zahn.

Goaltenders: Kevin Carr, Trevor Gorsuch, Garrett Metcalf.

Matthew Boucher has a point in 5 of his last 6 games. Cedric Pare has a goal in 3 of his last 4 contests. Pat Cannone, Ryan Lowney and Charlie Gerard have a point in 3 of their last 4.

Last Week’s Games (All games can be seen on Flohockey.tv and Mixlr)

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 – Tulsa 2 Utah 4. Matthew Boucher scored 3 goals in the 3rd period. Trevor Gorsuch stopped 30 of 32 Tulsa shots.

Friday, March 26th, 2021 – Tulsa 3 Utah 1. Mitch Maxwell scored his first goal of the season. Utah outshot Tulsa 35-25.

Saturday, March 27th, 2021 – Tulsa 3 Utah 6. 6 different Grizz forwards scored goals. Trevor Gorsuch saved 38 of 41 to get his 2nd win of the series. Matthew Boucher had 1 goal and 2 assists and Cedric Pare had 1 goal and 1 assist.

Sunday, March 28th, 2021 – Tulsa 1 Utah 2 (OT). Cedric Pare scored overtime game winner. Garrett Metcalf saved 24 of 25 in pro debut. Pat Cannone scored game tying goal 12:44 into the period. Utah is now 5-0 on Sundays at home.

This Week’s Games

Thursday, April 1st, 2021 – Utah 2 Allen 3 (Shootout) – Cedric Pare and Matthew Boucher scored goals. Utah outshot Allen 33 to 30. Trevor Gorsuch saved 27 of 29 through overtime.

Friday, April 2nd, 2021 – Utah 0 Allen 3. -Trevor Gorsuch saved 34 of 37.  

Saturday, April 3rd, 2021 – Utah at Allen. 6:05 pm.

Next Week’s Games

Friday, April 9th, 2021 – Utah at Wichita. 6:05 pm.

Saturday, April 10th, 2021 – Utah at Wichita. 6:05 pm.

Saturday, April 11th, 2021 – Utah at Wichita. 3:05 pm.